Phil Ammann
Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry doesn’t like to be called out.
Anyone who knows him professionally or personally will tell you that.
Through his first year in office, Curry faced relatively few of the slings and arrows that other politicians might face, despite moves made on boards and commissions that some considered overtly partisan.
Curry has reached across the aisle, building relationships with Democrats on the Jacksonville City Council. One such Democrat, former Mayor Tommy Hazouri, is a finance co-chair for the “Yes for Jacksonville” campaign seeking voter approval of the pension tax referendum.
Another is Councilman Garrett Dennis, who worked with Curry to call national attention to the blight at Eureka Gardens, the HUD housing complex on Jacksonville’s Westside.
Now it’s Year Two, and despite best efforts, Curry is starting to take some heat.
A good example came Friday.
Curry bristled at a question from an alt-weekly writer, who wondered if “political gamesmanship” drove Curry’s interest in remedying the squalor at Eureka.
“I find this suggestion disgusting. It is a false accusation and one that is disproved by my actions. These types of politically motivated attacks hurt our city and are offered by cowards who cynically hide behind anonymous commentary,” Curry wrote in an email, which quickly entered into the public record by way of the store of City of Jacksonville emails.
The heated language likely will animate the story, whenever it appears in print.
Curry’s weekend became more interesting Saturday when a Florida Times-Union article about a draft version of a Sheriff’s Task Force Report revealed that members of the task force wanted to hire more cops and thought the millage rate needed to be hiked to make that happen and to address the unfunded pension liability.
In response, the Mayor called a news conference Monday, on the heels of a tweet napalming the report in 140 characters: “I told you the elites would want to raise your taxes. That is always the EASY answer for them.”
The presser took a noticeably different tone from most of Curry’s media availabilities, one remarked upon by a reporter who described it as “angry.” Another described the whole event as Curry going “DEFCON 5” over something that would have been a blip on Alvin Brown’s radar.
Curry charged that those reporting on the “draft version” of the task force reported as if it were the official position of the Sheriff. He accused them of “sloppy work,” even as others have said that the Sheriff picked the task force, with full knowledge of individual members’ positions on such things as more cops and higher taxes to pay for them.
The Mayor described the leak of the task force report as “purely political,” intended to spawn a “news cycle … [that] leads citizens to believe that the Sheriff believes that [Curry’s] pension reform proposal doesn’t go far enough.”
A news cycle, Curry noted, which coincides with the mailing of absentee ballots.
There were flashes of Curry’s temper before, including during a debate with former Mayor Brown, during which Curry asked, “Do you think I’m racist?” Afterward, Curry confronted Brown, pressuring him to pull ads claiming that if elected, Curry would “turn back the clock.”
Curry does not deal well with misrepresentation.
Thus far, his marketing campaign for the pension tax referendum has gone with few glitches or real challenges. The same applies to his work at Eureka Gardens.
To get through the next five weeks and get his pension tax passed, Curry is going to have to channel a positive disposition. That’s the reality.
To that end, he can’t show anger or frustration to the media. This is particularly the case when he thinks he has been wronged. He will need to let facts — and the larger narrative — speak for themselves.
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“Task force: Mayor’s pension plan laudable but doesn’t go far enough to address needs” via Nate Monroe of the Florida Times-Union – A task force created by Sheriff Mike Williams argues Mayor Curry’s highly touted pension-sales tax plan is a step in the right direction but would not provide enough money needed to support police or the larger community … The task force recommended Curry’s plan be paired with increased property taxes, though it does not specify how much the tax rates should go up, and also called for far larger investment in law enforcement than has been discussed by elected officials in City Hall. “The task force concluded that by almost all measures of resources availability, the canard often proffered by citizens and politicians of both parties that Jacksonville has been a city trying to get by on the cheap for a long time, was mostly true,” the report says. Curry’s sales-tax plan “was mostly a step in the right direction, but [the task force] also concluded that more needed to be done especially on the millage issue.” The group also challenged the sweeping assumption that Jacksonville’s large pension debt was created by lavish retirement benefits for the rank-and-file, instead asserting that it stems from a failure by the city to invest in its police. The report paints a grim picture: Jacksonville police, some of the highest educated but lowest paid officers in major Florida cities, face unique challenges maintaining law and order in the largest city by area in the continental United States, where fiscal policy has historically prioritized rolling back the tax burden on residents.
“Curry’s budget proposal requires scrutiny” via Ron Littlepage of the Florida Times-Union — City budgets may be boring to most, but they are important to Jacksonville’s future. The one that Curry unveiled for the next fiscal year is interesting, to say the least … For one thing, it should put to rest the notion that Jacksonville is on the brink of becoming another Detroit, a comparison Curry makes when pushing his new sales tax plan that would be used to pay down the city’s public employees’ pension debt. A budget that features an additional $28 million in ad valorem revenues because property values are rising, hires 40 more police officers, provides for infrastructure work and includes spending $33 million in extra cash is nowhere close to a Detroit-like budget … One area that could get attention is the budget doesn’t provide any additional money for the Jacksonville Journey. While we are quick to give lip service to the idea that prevention and intervention are just as important as law enforcement in reducing crime, the Sheriff’s Office budget continues to increase dramatically while Journey programs often get crumbs. In recent years, the City Council has been moving away from issuing more debt with an emphasis on turning to a pay-as-you-go approach. Instead of using debt that will pile up interest charges for years, why not increase the property tax rate by one mill, which would produce the same $50 million but require no interest charges? That’s a question this Finance Committee might want to ask.
— “Lenny Curry, Tommy Hazouri sell pension tax to Jax ‘future leaders’” via A.G. Gancarski of Florida Politics
“The refreshing breeze of fiscal honesty” via John Burr — Leave it to a task force studying the needs of the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office to state what was becoming glaringly obvious but politically distasteful to say: The half-cent sales tax extension sought by Curry in an Aug. 30 referendum will not raise enough money quickly enough to fill the city’s fiscal crater.
And how could it? The sales tax extension doesn’t kick in with new city revenue for 14 years, and even then its use is bound by law to be restricted to paying off the city’s underfunded pension program.
The Mayor is in a bit of a box here: To sell the sales tax extension to voters, he has been playing the train wreck card by comparing Jacksonville’s coming budget woes to those of destitute Detroit. Curry can’t blow off the task force’s conclusions by saying they are too negative.
The task force took on a bigger question than just the upcoming referendum vote by researching what the Sheriff’s Office needs to operate effectively in the future. A paid-for pension plan for its officers for sure, but also more cops on the street, updated equipment and a more competitive pay scale to stop the poaching of experienced Jacksonville officers by other police departments that pay more.
The next step in the process is a review of the report by Jacksonville University President Tim Cost, and then a formal presentation to Sheriff Mike Williams. Cost can play a pivotal role here — if he blesses the task force findings, he can validate the city’s need to extend the sales tax increase and follow that up with a property tax increase for its immediate needs — like fixing roads, bridges, sewer lines and yes, bolstering police services.
In a relatively short time in Jacksonville, Cost has established himself as a highly regarded, savvy can-do leader. His opinion on matters involving an improved Jacksonville carry weight with people who call shots here.
The bottom-line political question: Can Curry pivot from his “no tax increase” pledge to a comprehensive and realistic fiscal prescription that starts the city on the road to a more promising and prosperous 21st-century? That would be a true measure of the Mayor’s leadership — but when politics and mathematics collide, facts don’t necessarily prevail.
“Rick Scott: Jacksonville area added nearly 22,000 new jobs over the year” – The area’s unemployment rate was 4.7 percent in June, declining by 0.8 percentage point in the last year. The industries with the largest job growth over the year in the Jacksonville area were trade, transportation and utilities with 5,200 new jobs; education and health services with 4,500 new jobs; and leisure and hospitality with 4,300 new jobs. In June, the Jacksonville area rounded out the top five metro areas in job demand, with 18,765 job openings, including 5,349 job openings in high-wage, high-skill STEM occupations. Florida businesses have added 102,600 new jobs since January 2016, bringing the total number of jobs created since December 2010 to 1,127,400 jobs. Florida’s annual job growth rate, at 3.2 percent, is also exceeding the nation’s, at 1.9 percent, for the 51st consecutive month.
“Jacksonville among top cities for women to own businesses” via John Burr for WJCT – The Small Business Trends ranking put Jacksonville at No. 21 in the country among markets friendly to female business owners, based on U.S. Census data. Burr talked to two entrepreneurs: Ann Sabbag, CEO of Health Designs and a former Florida Small Businessperson of the Year, and Renee Parenteau, who owns the successful Renee Parenteau Photography and makeup studio in Springfield. Both women agree Jacksonville is a great place to start a small business, and both say they have not felt they are at a disadvantage because they are women in business. So what makes Jacksonville such a good place? Parenteau, who moved to Jacksonville from Los Angeles nine years ago, said she’s found networking to be easy and productive. “Anybody you want to meet, pretty much you can access them. You can go have lunch, you can network, you just tell people, ‘I need your help on this.’ Everybody’s willing to help,” she said. “So it’s kind of like a small town, friendly, yet big enough to be a great place for business.” Sabbag agrees and credits the Jacksonville Chamber of Commerce with being supportive and responsive to the needs of her health-and-wellness company as it has grown over the past 20 years.
“Mayor names Jamie Shelton to serve on JAXPORT board” – Shelton has been named to replace Ambassador John Rood on the JAXPORT board. Rood resigned from the board last month to accept an appointment to the Florida Prepaid College Board by Governor Scott. President of bestbet Jacksonville, Shelton began his professional career as a certified public accountant for Arthur Andersen in Memphis, Tennessee, progressing from staff accountant to Senior Manager of Audit and Advisory Services. He left the firm in 2001 to join Jacksonville-based Regency Centers. At Regency Centers, Shelton served as VP – Controller of Western Operations and VP – Real Estate Accounting and Risk Management. He joined bestbet Jacksonville as its chief financial officer in 2009, and was promoted to President in 2013.
“JTA terminates manager who misled board” via Sebastian Kitchen of the Florida Times-Union – The Jacksonville Transportation Authority fired a well-connected manager following repeated discipline issues, including a suspension this year for misleading the agency’s board and CEO. JTA offered J. Keith Brown the opportunity to resign, but “he chose not to take that option” and was terminated, according to the memo outlining his firing. “Mr. Brown has repeatedly failed to uphold the Core Values of the Authority,” JTA Assistant Vice President Brad Thoburn wrote in a June 16 memo. “His actions and decisions limit his ability to effectively perform his work duties.” Brown, who was the joint use development officer at JTA, is the brother of City Council member Katrina Brown and son of Jerome Brown, owner of Jerome Brown Barbecue and Wings. JTA suspended Brown for using “poor judgment at best” in misleading its board and CEO in order to gain approval for the sale of property under his direction. Thoburn wrote in a March 30 memo outlining the incident it “serves as a final warning for unsatisfactory and unprofessional conduct at the Real Estate Committee meeting March 7, 2016.”
“W.C. Gentry critical of problems in Jacksonville journey summer literacy camps; demands answers from children’s commission” via David Chapman of the Jacksonville Financial News & Daily Record –Gentry popped in a summer literacy camp … to catch a glimpse of how the enhanced program was working. The Jacksonville Journey chair said he was pleased with the children’s engagement, but then noticed a glaring omission. The literacy camp had no books for the children … kids didn’t have the books for themselves. It was enough to lead Gentry to write a blistering three-page letter to the Jacksonville Children’s Commission CEO detailing other issues found on the trip and demanding answers. This year, the Journey and the Children’s Commission provided a $350,000 boost for seven of the 106 summer camps in the city’s more depressed areas to add a literacy component. An hour a day of literacy instruction and enrichment is intended to be used as an assessment tool to help determine progress made to peers without the program. Vendors were given extra money to buy the books for the kids. After some initial questioning, Gentry and his Journey colleague, Debbie Verges, found out the vendor they visited never did. “It’s not the experience we have designed or expected,” Gentry said.
“Fundraising lull for high-profile Jax political committees” via A.G. Gancarski of Florida Politics – “Build Something That Lasts,” a political committee associated with Curry, and “First Coast Values,” associated with Melissa Nelson, a Republican candidate for state attorney in the 4th Judicial Circuit, each saw no fundraising during the most recent reporting period, between July 9 and July 15. In the case of the Curry committee, the lack of fundraising corresponds with other pushes by the donor class, such as a competitive race in the 4th Congressional District between John Rutherford and Hans Tanzler, as well as a competitive race for state attorney. Curry’s committee has raised nothing since the qualifying deadline June 24, and had only raised $4,500 since May 1. Despite this pause, “Build Something That Lasts” has enough money for some bricks and mortar whenever the architects start up again; roughly $252,000 still waits in the committee’s coffers for deployment when and if it is needed.
“Latest poll shows Angela Corey in worse shape than a month ago” via Florida Politics – A month ago, it was a “shock” to see Angela Corey trailing Melissa Nelson in the Fourth Circuit State Attorney race. In that poll, Nelson was leading Corey, 38 to 29 percent. If those numbers were shocking, how do you describe the latest numbers out of northeast Florida? According to St. Pete Polls, Nelson is almost lapping Corey, leading her 53 to 27 percent among likely Republican voters. Wes White is trailing far behind at 11 percent, while 9 percent of voters say they are unsure of whom to vote. Propelling Nelson’s huge lead is a strong sense of “Corey fatigue.” Asked whether Corey deserves to be re-elected or if its time for someone new, 64 percent of Fourth Circuit voters say its time to make a change.
“Congressional, State Attorney candidate debates slated for August at Jacksonville University” via A.G. Gancarski of Florida Politics – Aug. 16 is the date for the 4th Circuit State Attorney debate, an event with an 8 p.m. start, which will be replayed at a later date. The two other debates, both covering congressional races, are to be aired live on WJXT-TV starting at 8 p.m. on the next two days. The 4th Congressional District debate will occur Aug. 17; the 5th Congressional District, on Aug. 18. All debates are slated to last one hour.
“Rachael Bennett endorses Hans Tanzler for Congress” – The St. Johns County Commissioner says Tanzler is the conservative leader District 4 needs in Washington. “His deep roots in our area, his rock solid conservative convictions, and the fact that he’s not a career politician make him the perfect choice to represent St. Johns County in Congress.” Bennett is a third-generation Floridian and the owner of a consulting company that specializes in land management and permitting and other farming issues. She is active in the St. Johns Federated Republican Women and the St. Johns Republican Executive Committee as well as the St. Augustine Art Association and St. Johns Chamber of Commerce.
“CD 4 hopeful Bill McClure launches new ad” – … which focuses on the need to elect an outsider to Congress instead of another career politician. “Nancy Pelosi, Chuck Schumer, and the rest of the insider party would celebrate the election of one of my opponents to Congress,” said McClure. “As the political outsider in this race, I am the only candidate that will fight the ruling elite in Washington, work to defeat ISIS, and will never compromise our Second Amendment Rights.” This advertisement, titled “Insider Party,” will air on cable television and digital media outlets throughout Florida’s 4th Congressional District. Last week, previously McClure released a 90-second digital ad “titled” “The Problem Solver.”
“Judge limits use of Corrine Brown discovery information, will reconsider” via Steve Patterson of the Florida Times-Union — Documents from prosecutors’ fraud case against Brown can’t be used for anything besides trial preparation … U.S. Magistrate James Klindt will revisit the subject in a hearing already scheduled for this coming [week] … Until then, he said in a court order, “the defendants shall use discovery material and its contents solely for the preparation and trial of this case and for no other purpose whatsoever.” Discovery material is the term used for evidence prosecutors are required to show the defendants before a trial, to ensure there’s a fair chance to prepare a response. Evidence for Brown’s September trial on charges involving wire fraud and filing false tax returns is expected to include bank and credit account records from people who donated to One Door for Education, a Virginia organization that prosecutors said became a slush fund enriching people around it instead of a real charity. Attorneys for Brown and her chief of staff, Ronnie Simmons, who also was indicted this month, opposed a request from prosecutors to limit use of discovery material to trial preparation. Both have pleaded not guilty.
“Donnie Horner releases new spot in HD 11 race” — Horner, a Republican facing Sheri Treadwell and Cord Byrd, is out with a spot that launched on TV this week. The 30-second commercial, called “Common Sense” touts Horner as a military veteran and having endorsements from police and firefighter unions.
“Former candidate Tom Taylor endorses Cord Byrd in HD 11” – “As a lifelong Beaches resident, I know that experienced representation in Tallahassee is vital in preserving the quality of life at the Beaches we all know and love,” said Taylor, who was also a candidate for the HD 11 seat. “Cord Byrd shares our values and love of the Beaches and I am proud to endorse him to be our next State Representative. As the only candidate left in the race from the Beaches, the time has come to rally around Cord, unify the Beaches community and elect Cord Byrd to represent us in Tallahassee on Aug. 30.” Taylor joins Barry Holloway as former District 11 candidates who have withdrawn from the race and endorsed Byrd.
“Reggie Fullwood campaign donors were fraud victims, prosecutor tells judge” via Steve Patterson of the Florida Times-Union — Florida’s election agency wasn’t a victim of the fraud charges facing Fullwood, attorneys agreed after more than an hourlong hearing in Jacksonville’s federal court … That concession doesn’t change any of the charges against Fullwood … but lays groundwork for his attorneys to try later to challenge parts of the 14-count indictment for wire fraud and failure to file income taxes brought against him in April. That might be a reason prosecutors have been slow to agree with the point, at times moving back to the subject after agreeing state officials hadn’t been financially harmed. “I’m not saying they lost money. … I’m just saying they could have become a victim,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Devereaux told U.S. District Judge Marcia Morales Howard, who had just been told the state wasn’t harmed. Instead, he said the real victims were the donors like Wal-Mart and political action committees that poured money into Fullwood’s campaign for him to seek office, not pay personal bills. Fullwood legally could have donated leftover money to the state, but wasn’t required to, Devereaux added.
“Darcy Richardson seeks the Reform Party’s presidential nomination” via the Sunshine State News — Richardson, who lives in Jacksonville, is a familiar name to many activists and political junkies across the nation. Besides serving as the campaign manager for former U.S. Sen. Eugene McCarthy’s … independent presidential campaign in 1988, Richardson is an expert on third-party politics, having written a multivolume history on them and he also writes in various media outlets. “I’ll be seeking the Reform Party’s presidential nomination next weekend in Long Island. The party … seems like a good match and is certainly worth preserving … Each of us, I suppose, must bear witness for the times in which we live. In the irrational age of Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton — with the country’s leading nationally-organized third party playing the role of apologist for the presumptive Democratic nominee while trying to gain the establishment’s blessing — a Reform Party candidacy begins to make some sense.” Richardson has been increasingly politically active in recent years. Back in 2010, economist and gubernatorial candidate Farid Khavari tapped Richardson as his running mate as they ran with no party affiliation. Richardson took on President Barack Obama in the 2012 primaries but ended up dropping out to support former Louisiana Gov. Buddy Roemer’s short-lived presidential bid outside of the major parties which included seeking the Reform Party nod.
“Judge hit with misconduct charges for derogatory comments about black people, women” via Jessica Bakeman of POLITICO — A Jacksonville circuit court judge is facing state judicial conduct charges after he commented that black people should “go back to Africa” and called a female colleague a “bitch” and a “cunt.” The Florida Judicial Qualifications Commission … filed a notice of charges against Mark Hulsey, a judge with the 4th Judicial Circuit Court, which serves Clay, Duval and Nassau counties. The commission’s investigative panel found that Hulsey had acted inappropriately not only by making disparaging comments toward black people and women but also by mistreating and overusing his judicial assistants and staff attorneys – requiring them to perform personal tasks for him. According to the charges, during a conversation with a staff attorney in Hulsey’s chambers in 2011, the judge “offhandedly observed about African-Americans, ‘They should go get back on a ship and go back to Africa.'” Also, Hulsey routinely asked a specific staff attorney to work for him, rather than following the typical process through which staff attorneys are assigned to judges from a pool of those available. As a result, the attorney whom Hulsey directly called to work for him ended up having to do twice as much work as usual: the work he gave her as well as her regularly assigned work. She alerted her supervisor, which led to Hulsey being reprimanded by the court’s chief judge for “overusing” staff attorneys. Hulsey then called the supervisor of staff attorneys a “bitch” and a “cunt” in a conversation with a third party. Hulsey also “demeaned” female staff attorneys by describing them as “cheerleaders who talk during the national anthem,” according to the charges.
“The timing was right for Bob Dees to pursue a spot on 4th Circuit bench” via Marilyn Young of the Jacksonville Financial News & Daily Record – Dees was just 6 years old when his father died in a car accident … Though he grew up without a father, Dees found a strong male influence in one of his uncles from his mother’s side of the family. The uncle was a well-respected lawyer in the family’s hometown of Lakeland. “I wanted to emulate that,” Dees said. And he did, graduating from the University of Florida Levin College of Law in 1987. Dees has worked for respected small firms and the imposing Holland & Knight. His career has included First Amendment, maritime and insurance defense cases. After his one-two punch of victories against the pension fund in 2015, Dees began to pursue a job on the bench. He made the finalists’ list his first time out, but the open spots went to John Guy and Steve Whittington in December. After that he was passed over for an opening on the 1st District Court of Appeal. But then came the right call from the wrong area code last month. At age 53, Dees was appointed to replace Harvey Jay as a Circuit Court judge. Dees will wrap up his work at Milam Howard at the end of the month, go on a college trip with one of his daughters and begin his new job Aug. 8. He’ll start in the civil division but could be shifted anywhere in the circuit in January. He’s the new guy, he said.
“St. Johns County commission nixes discussion on slot machine referendum” via Jake Martin of the St. Augustine Record — The St. Johns County Commission unanimously decided to withdraw from its agenda a discussion on a proposed ordinance for a referendum to determine whether slot machine gaming would be allowed in the county. County attorney Patrick McCormack advised commissioners if they were to pull the item from the agenda, it would not come up before the board again in 2016, and, thus, not be included on November’s general election ballot for consideration. The decision to pull the item came with a mix of some applause and head-turning from audience members in the County Auditorium. Commission Chair Jeb Smith said there was no legislative sponsor but, rather, that the proposal came through as an application to the county’s legal department. Behind the push for the referendum was BestBet, which currently operates facilities in Jacksonville and Orange Park. Its facility on Race Track Road, called St. Johns Greyhound Park, closed in 2012. The company had plans to build a new pari-mutuel facility on the northeast corner of Interstate 95 and State Road 207 to which its existing license would have been transferred. However, BestBet … informed the County Commission it was ultimately not ready to go forward with the proposal.
“Entire St. Johns County legislative delegation backs Jerry Cameron for County Commission” — State Sen. Travis Hutson and state Rep. Paul Renner and Cyndi Stevenson are all supporting Cameron’s bid for the District 3 seat on the St. Johns County Commission. “Jerry Cameron is a proven St. Johns County leader,” said Hutson. “I am very happy to support him because I know he will be the fiscally responsible leader St. Johns residents need on the county commission.” Hutson was elected to the District 6 seat in the Florida Senate in April 2015 … Stevenson said: “Having worked with him I know he is a difference maker and a problem solver who believes in limited government and is committed to the long-term success and prosperity of our county.” Stevenson represents District 17 … “Jerry Cameron is a great choice for St. Johns County,” said Renner. “He is a dedicated public servant who will always do what’s best for the constituents he serves.” Renner is a military veteran, former prosecutor and local business attorney. He has held the District 24 seat in the Florida House since last year.
“School board reviews tentative millage and budget plan” via Amelia Hitchner of the St. Augustine Record — A quick glance into the St. Johns County School Board’s 2016-17 tentative millage and budget plan reveals that a tax increase — at least for this year — might not happen … millage rates decreased nearly 5 percent compared to last year. In contrast to that sharp drop, property evaluation assessments increased to almost 9 percent … homeowners can expect the good news of lower property taxes this year, the school district will need to prepare for some financial strain due to state cutbacks. This year, the proposed total millage rate of 6.867 is composed of 1.5 mills for capital improvement, 4.619 for required local effort and 0.748 for basic discretionary rates … the 0.361 drop in millage from last year’s total of 7.228 marks the sixth year in a row the required local effort, which is set by the state, has been reduced. The 1.5 capital millage, the maximum millage granted by the state Legislature, will generate more than $34 million for the district … revenue generated by the half-cent sales tax will also relieve some of the burden from maintenance, technology, transportation, security improvements and construction needs, but it’s not a means to an end.
“Strip Search: Did a candidate for Clay County Sheriff use a police vehicle to go to a full-nude strip club?” via Nikki Sanders of Folio Weekly — Craig Aldrich, former undersheriff to Sheriff Rick Beseler, touts himself as a conservative, Christian and family man. But some law enforcement sources within the Clay County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) say information has been released which may add a little dichotomy to Aldrich’s bio. Several weeks ago, a large anonymous mail drop with a video disk in it out blanketed Clay County. The letter stated: “As you can see from the attached video of an unmarked C.C.S.O. sheriff’s vehicle assigned to Major/Captain David Senters, the close associate and subordinate deputy to Colonel Craig Aldrich has driven the vehicle to a totally “NUDE” strip club in Tampa, Florida. This is a clear violation of law and county regulations.” The video showed an unmarked CCSO vehicle, along with a close-up of the license plate, parked in front of Mons Venus strip club in Tampa. The Chevy Impala’s license plate number was W778BI. The narration on the video also stated the car had a “S.T.O.P. sticker given to Clay County Sheriff’s Office Personnel” on the rear bumper. Those same sources told Folio Weekly Magazine that Aldrich attended a training seminar, along with six other officers from the CCSO, March 11 and 12, 2010. Information obtained by FWM from the CCSO included the roster of attendants at a training session held on those dates.
“U.S. Navy defends test blasts that caused Florida ‘earthquake’” via Joe Daraskevich of the Florida Times-Union — The blast registered as a 3.7 on the Richter scale and was described as a rarity for the Florida coast. But it wasn’t an earthquake. The U.S. Navy provided the motion in the ocean July 16 as part of a testing program for its state-of-the-art littoral combat ships. “Each test is conducted with a 10,000-pound charge,” said Capt. Thurraya S. Kent, a spokeswoman for the Navy. “Details on specific tests are classified.” It was the final of three tests designed to validate the operational survivability for the USS Jackson — a new ship based at Mayport Naval Station. The Navy is careful about when the Full Ship Shock Trials take place because of concerns over sea life and other vessels in the water, said Matt Leonard of Naval Systems Command. Leonard said the Navy sends notices to mariners before each test to be sure the area is clear, due to the hazardous conditions that follow the blasts. Some believe the Navy isn’t vocal enough about when and where they are doing tests similar to the one July 16, said John Hocevar, oceans campaign director for Green Peace. “You don’t want to hear about this by having a seismic indication that they’ve already blown something up,” Hocevar said … He suggested having public hearings to determine when and where a blast would take place.
“Dominick Angiolillo named to national cardiology exam committee” via the University of Florida Health – Angiolillo, M.D., Ph.D., a professor of medicine and director of cardiovascular research at the University of Florida College of Medicine – Jacksonville, has been named to a special cardiology-based exam committee for the American Board of Internal Medicine. Such committees develop the exams used for physicians’ credential certifications. Angiolillo directs the interventional cardiology fellowship program at UFCOMJ and serves as a staff cardiologist and interventional cardiologist at UF Health Jacksonville. He is certified by ABIM in internal medicine, cardiovascular disease and interventional cardiology.
“Ron Chamblin’s career: 40 years, millions of books, $3.5M in real estate holdings” via Max Marbut of the Jacksonville Financial News & Daily Record – His first day in business, all Chamblinwanted to do was make enough money to pay the $150 rent on a small bookstore on Herschel Street in Riverside and have enough left over each month for living expenses. Now, 40 years later, he has 24 employees, plus two stores comprising 54,000 square feet and a warehouse that represent a $3.5 million portfolio of commercial real estate holdings. Chamblin’s career as Jacksonville’s most well-known used book dealer will be celebrated Saturday from 7-10 p.m. at Chamblin’s Uptown, the bookstore and café he opened Downtown in 2008. “At first, I just wanted to make a living with me alone and I did make a living with me alone,” he said. After 11 years drawing the store’s only full-time paycheck and watching the business steadily grow, Chamblin needed to expand. So he leased his second store, also in Riverside and now the Museum of Southern History. Chamblin’s Bookmine continued to gain popularity with local bibliophiles, so after a few years, he purchased the building next door and connected the two structures. By 2005, expansion was again needed and Chamblin decided to look Downtown for his next opportunity.
“FSCJ’s ‘farm to fork’ restaurant downtown will feature healthy food, local focus” via Karen Brune Mathis of the Jacksonville Financial News & Daily Record – Serving fresh food in the genre of farm to fork, Florida State College at Jacksonville expects to open its Downtown café the first week of January. “We are going to very much focus on local vendors, local ingredients, local flavors,” said FSCJ President Cynthia Bioteau. There should be no fried or junk food, “and I’m standing by that,” Bioteau said. “This will be a health-focused menu on good food.” Final details are undecided, but Downtown diners can expect breakfast and lunch service from 7 a.m.-2 p.m. Monday–Friday on the ground floor at 20 W. Adams St., west of Main Street in the urban core. Weekend brunch is under evaluation. The 4,500-square-foot restaurant should seat around 100 customers. A separate private dining area for up to 12 people will be available for small groups who need space for business, breakfast or lunch meetings. FSCJ anticipates table service, while a pick-up-and-go station also will be available. Students will operate the restaurant, although other staff might be hired.
“In the can” via Mark Wisdom of Folio Weekly — Today, we take beer packaged in cans for granted. We tote six-packs of our favorite canned brews to pool parties and beaches, rather than risk dropping and breaking a bottle where folks are bare-footin’ it. The story of the beer can goes back to 1909, but the first can of beer was not sold until July 1935 … Fast forward today … craft brewers are seeing the advantages of cans over bottles and have begun canning their brews. For many hops habitués, however, the primary reason for not sipping from aluminum is taste. For years, canned beer has carried the stigma of having a tinny tinge on the tongue. Today, with modern coating technology, that doesn’t fly. Beer from a can is just as tasty as beer from a bottle – maybe even more so, because the can protects the libation from the ravages of light and oxygen better than the bottle. Look for these quality craft beers in cans at your local beer seller: Intuition Ale Works: I-10 IPA Intuition has the distinction of being the first craft brewer in Florida to can their beers. Today, the roster of cans includes the popular and delicious flagship IPA. Grab a six-pack for the pool party and don’t worry about broken glass on the deck. Bold City Brewery: Killer Whale Cream Ale A perfect summertime ale, Killer Whale is light, crisp and refreshing with no bitter aftertaste. A few cans of these in a bucket of ice guarantees a successful summer afternoon. Veterans United Craft Brewery: Raging Blonde Ale Heavy on the grains, but still generously hopped, Raging Blonde is a refreshing ale with an attitude. Just how we like our blondes.
“Jaguars GM Dave Caldwell said signing Greg Hardy not ‘imminent’” via Ryan O’Halloran of the Florida Times-Union – Caldwell said the team hasn’t ruled out signing free agent defensive end Hardy, but that a move isn’t “imminent.” Hardy … met with Caldwell, coach Gus Bradley and defensive coordinator Todd Wash and was also put through an on-field workout. It is the first documented team visit for Hardy since he became a free agent in March and Dallas announced it was not re-signing him. “It was an opportunity for us,” Caldwell said as the Jaguars opened training camp with the quarterbacks and rookies reporting to EverBank Field. “Here was a guy who was a franchise defensive end and was on the street. We tried to find out the facts of where he’s at, the truth behind things, everything that surrounds him and just do our homework. “It’s not often you get to work out a player of that caliber. We have no imminent plans of signing him at this point. But it was good to get him in and find out about him.” Hardy, who turns 28 Thursday, has 40 sacks in 75 games for Carolina and Dallas.
